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Andy's FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and bidding guide for Week 9 (May 26 - June 1). His recommended FAAB dollars to spend on waiver wire adds.
With Week 8 over, it is time to look ahead to Week 9 and place our FAAB bids. This week, we will highlight several elite speed options in the infield. If you faded speed in your draft, this is your week to get some much-needed production in that category. On the pitching side, we will look at a pitcher who was likely dropped after his rough first month but appears to be turning the corner.
Our series about FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups continues as we head into Week 9 of the 2025 MLB season -- May 26 through June 1. This waiver wire article will recommend free agents to target and how much FAAB you should allocate for them.
Each week, I will break down at least one player from each position with ownership percentages under 40 percent in Yahoo! leagues who could improve your roster and provide you with an added boost in several categories. Let's get to it!
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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Hitters to Target
Drake Baldwin, C, Atlanta Braves
25% rostered
FAAB Bid: <30% if needing a No. 2 catcher, <9% for others
Drake Baldwin was in my column last week, and he still sits under the 40% roster mark on Yahoo! but will likely surpass it by next week. Even with Sean Murphy back in action, Baldwin has outperformed him and reclaimed the starting job. Over his last 10 contests, entering Thursday, the young backstop has posted a stellar .571/.571/.964 slash line.
During this stretch, Baldwin was only held out of the lineup twice. Baldwin is being deployed as a No. 1 catcher, and fantasy managers should follow suit. If you need a legit second catcher or even a viable starting option, raise your bid this weekend.
Drake Baldwin is hitting .531 this month 😳 pic.twitter.com/CBHQpwXQjs
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 20, 2025
Jonah Heim, C, Texas Rangers
9% rostered
FAAB Bid: <5%
My other catcher to target is Jonah Heim, who is quietly enjoying a solid bounce-back season. Through the first eight weeks, the switch-hitter has posted a .260/.305/.420 slash line with six home runs and three stolen bases. Under the hood, he has generated a .262 xBA, which suggests he should continue to see stable production.
Over his last seven, Heim has posted a .273/.261/.591 line with two long balls.
Other C to consider: Ryan Jeffers MIN, Miguel Amaya CHC
Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Los Angeles Angels
11% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15% if needing a CI, <8% for others
Nolan Schanuel has been among the most productive first basemen over the past week. In his last eight contests, the 23-year-old has posted a .407/.500/.630 line with three doubles and a home run. Through 47 games, Schanuel has been a strong batting average contributor, posting a .278 AVG and holding an impressive .372 OBP.
The former 11th overall pick has shown an elite eye at the plate, striking out at a 13.0% rate and drawing walks at an 11.9% rate, which gives him a substantial boost in points formats.
Nick Kurtz, 1B, Athletics
20% rostered
FAAB Bid: <20%
While Kurtz was viewed as a must-add player when he got the call earlier in May, many frustrated managers have cut ties with the top prospect after his disappointing start. However, if you missed out, this is the week to get him back.
Kurtz has begun to find his power swing, as he has launched three home runs and posted two straight two-hit games on May 20 and May 21. While he still holds a modest .227/.283/.409 line, his .251 xBA, .454 xSLG, and elite 77.7 mph bat speed suggest better days are ahead.
Nick Kurtz clobbers his 2nd home run of the game! 😳 pic.twitter.com/RFyQbesgm5
— MLB (@MLB) May 22, 2025
Other 1B to consider: Miguel Vargas CWS, Kody Clemens MIN
Chase Meidroth, 2B/3B/SS, Chicago White Sox
9% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10% in points leagues, <8% in standard leagues
Chase Meidroth made his MLB debut earlier in April but was sidelined with a thumb injury for just under two weeks. Prior to the injury, Meidroth held a .269/.387/.269 line through his first nine MLB games. However, since returning, the No. 8-ranked prospect in the Chicago system has been very productive.
Over his last 19 games, Meidroth has posted a stellar .313/.378/.418 line with four doubles, one home run, and seven stolen bases. While he does not possess high power upside, he provides strong value when looking for speed and a boost in batting average/on-base percentage. His 15.2% K rate also makes him a viable starter in deeper points leagues.
David Hamilton, 2B/SS, Boston Red Sox
3% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10% if needing speed, <5% for others
With Kristian Campbell slowly losing playing time at the keystone, David Hamilton has begun to carve out a starting role. Similar to Meidroth, Hamilton is not a source of power, but he should provide a high batting average with elite speed production. Over his last eight games, Hamilton has posted a .438 AVG with three stolen bases.
Last season, Hamilton swiped 33 bags across 98 games. All he needs to make an impact on the basepaths is playing time, and he appears to be trending in that direction. If you need speed, bid accordingly.
Update - The Red Sox are set to promote top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer, which may limit Hamilton's playing time. As a result, he should only be targeted if you need stolen base production.
Other 2Bs to consider: Jose Caballero TB
Miguel Vargas, 3B/1B, Chicago White Sox
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <3%
After hitting just two home runs and posting a modest .215 AVG through his first 38 games of the season, Miguel Vargas has begun to heat up at the plate. Over his last nine games, the former Dodger has posted a strong .308/.316/.694 line with two doubles and four home runs.
Is his power surge legit? Under the hood, he holds a .403 xSLG with a below-average hard-hit rate and barrel rate. While he has shown a strong eye at the plate (17.7% K rate), his power numbers will surely decline. As a result, let your league-mates spend more on Vargas this weekend.
Addison Barger, 3B/OF, Toronto Blue Jays
5% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15%
Addison Barger was featured in my column last week and still remains quite under-rostered. Over his last 12 games, Barger has hit an impressive .356/.408/.622 slash line with six doubles, two home runs, and swiped one bag. While he is still batting towards the back half of the lineup, he is flashing high power upside.
Under the hood, the 25-year-old has generated an elite 95.2 mph average exit velocity with a 13.4% barrel rate and a 58.2% hard-hit rate. Buy the breakout at a discount before the price surges.
Other 3B to consider: Chase Meidroth CWS, Jose Caballero TB
Jose Caballero, SS/2B/3B/OF, Tampa Bay Rays
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <22% if needing speed, <15% for others in category formats
Our other option for speed comes from Tampa Bay with Jose Caballero. Over his last six contests, the speedy utility man has swiped an impressive six bags while holding a .304 AVG. During this stretch, he has tallied three doubles and scored five runs.
Given his ability to play multiple positions, Tampa Bay has continued to find a spot for him in the starting nine. He has appeared in 40 games and stolen 15 total bases, the third-highest mark in the AL. After his impressive week, do not expect him to be on waivers much longer.
Marcelo Mayer, SS, Boston Red Sox
9% rostered
FAAB Bid: <22% if needing a MI, <15% for others
On Saturday, the Red Sox announced that they would be promoting top infield prospect Marcelo Mayer from Triple-A Worcester. Mayer has been swinging a hot bat at Triple-A, holding a strong .301/.391/.549 line with five doubles and seven home runs over his last 29 games. While Mayer carries high upside, his playing may be slightly limited.
At Triple-A, he recently began seeing time at the keystone, which could open up more opportunities. However, with Kristian Campbell, David Hamilton, and Trevor Story all expected to see time as middle infielders in Boston, Mayer could have his ceiling limited. However, given his prospect pedigree and strong production at Triple-A, he is worth adding in all standard formats.
In addition, if Campbell officially shifts over to first base, Mayer could become the full-time second baseman.
Other SS to consider: Chase Meidroth CWS, David Hamilton BOS
Robert Hassell III, OF, Washington Nationals
4% rostered
FAAB Bid: <17% if needing an OF, <10% for others
Robert Hassell was called up to the majors earlier this week and made his MLB debut on Thursday evening against the Braves. In this start, Hassell wasted little time making an impact, going 2-for-5 with a stolen base. He got the starting nod in center field with Dylan Crews (oblique) and Jacob Young (shoulder) on the IL.
Through 43 games with Triple-A earlier this season, Hassell showcased five-category potential as he posted a .288/.337/.405 line with seven doubles, four home runs, and nine stolen bases. With Crews and Young sidelined, Hassell should have close to an everyday role in the Nationals' lineup.
Given his ability to hit for a high average and flash high-speed upside with decent power production, he should be added in all five-outfielder formats this weekend. If he can stick in the majors, he has the ability to surpass double-digit HRs with 20+ SB upside.
Daulton Varsho, OF, Toronto Blue Jays
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <25% if needing an outfielder with power, <18% for others
While Daulton Varsho will not provide a reliable source of batting average, he is one of the few players likely available on your waiver wire that carries 20+ HR upside. After missing the start of the season with a shoulder injury, Varsho has launched seven home runs across his first 17 games. However, he holds a modest .215 AVG.
Under the hood, Varsho has generated a .561 xSLG, 20.5% barrel rate, and a 47.7% hard-hit rate, all of which are well above the average marks. If you need power, target Varsho but expect your batting average production to decline, given his uninspiring .234 xBA.
⚾Daulton Varsho, @DaultonVarsho25! HR (7)
5/21/25 @ TOR, ⬇️ 8th
vs RHP Alek Jacob105.2 MPH / 29° / 413 ft to CF
Off a 85.0 MPH four-seam fb▶️It's a home run in 22/30 parks.◀️
📺: https://t.co/g9JAqEAooQ pic.twitter.com/pohuE8RL1F
— Home Run Report (@homerunreport) May 22, 2025
Other OFs to consider: Jesus Sanchez MIA, Addison Barger TOR, Jose Caballero TB
Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pitchers to Target
Chris Paddack, SP, Minnesota Twins
20% rostered
FAAB Bid: <18%
Chris Paddack was likely dropped in most leagues after his disappointing opening month. Across his first 32 1/3 innings of work, Paddack posted a rough 5.57 ERA with a 1.48 WHIP. During this stint, he held a 24:16 K:BB and allowed six home runs.
However, Paddack has begun to turn the corner and is regaining his form. Over his last three starts, the right-hander has tossed 19 1/3 innings to the tune of a stellar 1.37 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP. While his underlying 4.24 xERA suggests he will likely take a step back, Paddack should remain a viable SP4/SP5 going forward.
Chris Paddack, Dirty 84mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/3wEiMCMPaZ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 15, 2025
Noah Cameron, SP, Kansas City Royals
12% rostered
FAAB Bid: <15%
Noah Cameron made his MLB debut on April 30 and took a no-hitter into the seventh inning. In this outing against the A's, Cameron tossed six 1/3 innings of one-hit ball en route to earning a victory. The young southpaw re-joined the MLB roster this past week, after Seth Lugo (finger) and Cole Ragans (groin) hit the injured list.
In his second start, Cameron tossed six 1/3 innings of one-run ball against the Cardinals. He struck out three batters and allowed no walks with two hits. Earlier in the season at Triple-A, Cameron logged 32 2/3 innings to the tune of a 3.31 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP.
While the southpaw does not carry high strikeout upside, he should have a permanent spot in the rotation and has shown the ability to pitch deep into games.
Bailey Falter, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
7% rostered
FAAB Bid: <7%
Another pitcher that has enjoyed a recent resurgence is Bailey Falter of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Falter has logged 16 2/3 straight shutout innings (three starts). During this stint, Falter has allowed nine hits and held a modest 11:7 K:BB.
Prior to this impressive run, Falter posted a high 5.06 ERA with a 1.21 WHIP across his first 37 1/3 innings of work this season. While fantasy managers should not expect Falter to remain this productive, he does carry some solid underlying numbers. He currently sits in the 68th percentile and 67th percentile in xERA and xBA.
In addition, Falter sits at the average mark in walk rate (8.4%) and barrel rate (8.3%).
With a locked-in spot, fantasy managers looking for a short-term replacement should consider riding the hot hand.
Other SPs to consider: Zebby Matthews MIN, Hayden Birdsong SFG
Dennis Santana, RP, Pittsburgh Pirates
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <20% if needing saves
Even with David Bednar back in the fold, Dennis Santana has continued to see save opportunities. Over his last six innings of work, Santana has notched two saves and allowed two runs. During this stretch, he has posted a 0.60 WHIP.
Through 20 1/3 innings this season, Santana has held an impressive 1.77 ERA with a 0.91 WHIP. While he has only struck out 13 batters, his elite command (41.% % walk rate) should keep him in the 1B position on the closer depth chart in the Steel City.
Daniel Palencia, RP, Chicago Cubs
10% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10% if needing saves
With Ryan Pressly being demoted to the seventh inning and Porter Hodge (oblique) on the IL, the Cubs have turned to Daniel Palencia as their new ninth-inning option. Even after blowing a save on May 19, the Cubs gave him another opportunity to lock down the ninth on May 21, and he did not disappoint.
Fantasy managers should view Palencia as a short-term option. Pressly should return to the mix later in the summer, and Hodge will likely emerge as the favorite once he returns from the IL. However, the current closer on one of the best teams in the NL is still worth rostering.
Other RP to consider for saves: Jesus Tinoco MIA
Fantasy Baseball Prospects to Monitor
Bubba Chandler, SP, Pittsburgh Pirates
15% rostered
FAAB Bid: <10%
Bubba Chandler has continued to dominate Triple-A and is on the verge of a promotion. In his most recent outing, Chandler tossed four 1/3 innings of two-run ball and struck out seven.
Through 37 1/3 innings of work, Chandler has tallied 56 punchouts and held a 2.17 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP. Even though Mike Burrows was called on to replace Carmen Mlodzinski in the rotation, fantasy managers should continue to view the top pitching prospect in the sport as a must-stash option.
Other prospects to monitor: Roman Anthony BOS
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